Honors Literary Research Paper
Abstract:
For this assignment you will be using our
study of literary criticism to write a 6-8-page literary
research essay. You are required to utilize at least 6
sources from databases and books. To write this paper
you must first, make an argument about the text, and
second, you must situate that argument within relevant
criticism on the text. You will not be researching facts
about the work, or the historical period, but rather you will be researching books
and essays on the novel's interpretation. How have other critics read the novel in
question, and what can you add to those readings? While you will research the
literary criticism available on The Scarlet Letter, do not think of this as a "report"
on what the critics have said. Instead, craft an argument about the work, one that
engages with other critics as a way of sharpening a particular point. To make your
point, you will use criticism that agrees with your perspective and successfully
argue against relevant criticism that attacks your perspective.
Argument: When you write literary research essay, one requiring research,
you are essentially making an argument. You are arguing that your perspective-an
interpretation, an evaluative judgment, or a critical evaluation-is a valid one
(Purdue Owl 2011).
A debatable thesis statement: Like any argument paper you have ever
written, you must have a specific, detailed thesis statement that reveals your
perspective, and, like any good argument, your perspective must be one, which is
debatable.
And Formatting, of Course: The length of the text of the final copy (not including
the final Works Cited) is to be as follows: no less than 6 pages and no more than 8 pages –
typewritten, double-spaced. If the paper is not the prescribed length, points will be
deducted. You will need to number all pages consecutively (including page one) throughout
your composition. Page numbers should be placed in the top-right hand corner, one half inch
from the top with the student's last name before the page number (MLA format).
Anticipated Due Date: Your essay is due the class period before you take
finals! Therefore, you have roughly 2 weeks to complete this assignment.
General Steps in the Research Paper Assignment
(See "Specific Explanations of Individual Parts" for more details.)
1. Students will gather information and literary criticism on their novel from various sources.
Students must utilize at least 6 sources.
2. Quotation requirement: Students will need to include at least one long quote from the
novel text AND one quote from a source using the MLA HANDBOOK format. Students will not
use more than 8 direct quotes in their papers.
3. They will write notecards based upon the information in the sources.
4. Students will type a thesis statement.
5. They will type a rough draft of Works Cited by alphabetizing the bibliography cards.
6. They will type the rough draft of the composition including the internal documentation in MLA
format as they write.
7. As a part of their rough drafts, students must include the literary criticism they are responding
to, and pertinent background research and information found on their novels.
8 Students will develop the introductory paragraph making sure that the thesis statement is the
last sentence in the introductory paragraph.
9. They will develop the concluding paragraph making sure that it concludes or finalizes the
paper appropriately.
10. Students will print off their rough drafts of their compositions and the Works Cited.
11. Students will type the final copies of their compositions, inputting all necessary revisions.
12. Students will type their final Works Cited.
13. Students will proofread all their final documents and will input changes into their
computerized copies.
14. Students will print their final copies of the documents.
15. Students will submit their literary criticism research papers by placing all their materials in a
large, manila envelope. They will write their first and last names and period number on the
manila envelope.
16. They will place all items in the manila envelope in the following order:
Under One Paperclip
A. Final copy with final Works Cited as the last page
B. Final formal outline with thesis statement at the top (behind Works Cited)
Under a Second Paperclip
A. Rough draft of paper
B. Rough draft of Works Cited
C. Rough outline with thesis statement at the top
Second Rubber Band Around
D. Notecards
===============================================================
SPECIFIC EXPLANATIONS OF INDIVIDUAL PARTS
Students must use at least 6 sources.
Notecards: Students should complete at least 15 notecards.

Students should write on their notecards in PENCIL.

They must do all their notecards before they begin to write their rough draft.

They need to put the author of the source’s last name and year published in the upperrighthand corner of the notecard. Students should write their full names in the bottomlefthand corner of the notecard.

They should put the source page number in the bottom-righthand corner of the
notecard.

Students should either write down word-for-word those statements which sound really
interesting and put quote marks on the card to show that they have quoted directly from
the source, or they should write the information in their own words – called
"paraphrasing." No matter whether a person quotes directly or puts the information in
her own words, she must give credit to the source. Students will do this by inserting
parenthetical documentation into their papers using MLA format (to be discussed later in
this document).

Students should write only one main idea per notecard and should put the key word on
the top- lefthand corner of each card. This will make it easy for students to sort their
notecards by key ideas when they get all their notecards finished.

When they have finished doing their notecards, students should divide them into stacks of
similar key ideas.

When they have stacked their notecards by key ideas, they are ready to write their
informal outline.
Your notecards should look like this:
Symbolism [Key word]
Silotto 2011
When the red pickle dish, a gift from Zeena’s Aunt Philura Maple, shatters it symbolizes the
broken nature of the Frome’s marriage, which Ethan is unable to glue back together.
[Information either paraphrased (in student's own words) or quoted (quote marks)]
Alicia Montgomery [Student's first and last name]
[P. # in source] p. 37
Rule of thumb: It is better to have too many sources and too many notecards than not
enough to cover the subject matter adequately.
Rough Outline and Thesis Statement
Students should type the words "Rough Draft Outline" at the top of a page.
After looking at the key ideas on their notecards, they should come up with one overarching idea
for their paper. This is called a thesis statement (a single sentence – a concise idea the writer will
try to expand on in his composition). Students should write the thesis statement at the top of the
rough draft outline.
Students will use a COMPLETE SENTENCE type of outline.
They will need to double-space their outline.
Each body paragraph in the student's paper must have a topic sentence; therefore, each student
should make each Roman numeral a topic sentence, which indicates each body paragraph. The
support ideas that explain the topic sentence will be listed in descending order. Here is an
example to follow:
THESIS STATEMENT
I. Topic sentence of first body paragraph
A. First support idea
1. First sub-idea
2. Second sub- idea
B. Second support idea
1. First sub-idea
2. Second sub-idea
Silotto Fall 2011
Rough Works Cited
Students should type their rough Works Cited by alphabetizing their source cards and following
the MLA HANDBOOK format.
Rough Draft
Using their rough outline as a guide, students should begin to write their rough draft of the
composition. They need to double-space their papers. Each time that the student uses a direct
quote or an idea from a source, she must give credit by inserting parenthetical documentation.
Rule of thumb: When in doubt, cite the source!
As the student writes his paper, she will need to insert parenthetical documentation at the end
of each new source or at the end of each paragraph if the same source is used continuously
for a number of paragraphs.
Into the content of their papers, students will weave background information, material from the
novel they have chosen to read, and literary criticism from experts.
When the student finishes writing her body paragraphs, she should go back and write the
introductory paragraph and the concluding paragraph. She should be sure to put her thesis
statement as the last sentence in her introductory paragraph. Both the introductory and
concluding paragraphs should be of similar length.
At this point, the student may print out his rough draft. He must then go back and insert IN
INK all the spelling/grammar/capitalization/usage corrections, revisions, and strong
adjectives and verbs. This step must not be skipped! It is easy to miss errors when they
are on the computer screen. After the final corrections are made print out the rough draft
you will turn in for review.
Students should also go back and check the end of each paragraph to see if the beginning of the
next paragraph has some key words, which connect it to the previous paragraph.
Students should insert transitional words between sentences inside the paragraphs in order to
make the ideas connect to each other.
Final Copy of Composition
Students will need to follow MLA format for paper (organization, parenthetical citation,
pagination, works cited, etc.). Students should be sure the length of their paper is 6 to 8 pages.
They should be sure their printer produces a dark, legible copy.
Final Works Cited
Students should follow MLA format.
The final double-spaced Works Cited should be affixed to the back of the final copy. Students
should be sure they list only the sources they utilized in their paper. The entries are to be
alphabetized by the first word in the annotation, and each entry must be written with a hanging
indent.
Here are two rules of thumb to follow in order for a person to avoid plagiarism:
(1) When a student writes four or more words in a summary/paraphrase, which appear the
same as they are written in the source, he needs to give credit to the source (parenthetical
documentation). (2) When in doubt, a student should cite the source.
Silotto Fall 2011
MLA Citation for Literary Criticism
Parenthetical example (in the text of your paper):
For the heroine, the world is defined in terms of love and marriage, and "the art of living" comes with a
realization that such art is difficult or impossible; the price for the art is often tragic endings. Rosowski
calls this female awakening "an awakening to limitations" (Bloom 43).
Works Cited examples (in your Works Cited list):
Bloom, Harold, ed. Kate Chopin. Modern Critical Views. New York: Chelsea House
Publishers, 1987.
Example of secondary Sources Originally Published for a Specific Source
Forman, Robert J. “Emily Dickinson.” Magill’s Survey of American Literature. Vol 2. Ed. Frank N.
Magill. New York: Marshall Cavendish Corporation, 1991. 509-527.
Johnson, Jeannine. "The Bell Jar: Criticism." Novels for Students. Vol 1. Ed. Diane Telgen. Detroit:
Gale Research, 2000. 34-35.
Example of secondary sources Reprinted from Other Sources such as Gale series like
Contemporary Literary Criticism, Twentieth Century Literary Criticism
Pallen, Charles. “Mark Twain.” Criticisms on Twain. (1984): 23-32. Rpt. In Twentieth-Century
Literary Criticism. Ed. Dennis Poupard. Vol. 25. Detroit: Gale, 1988. 399-402.
Cochran, Robert W. “Circularity in The Sun Also Rises.” Vol XIV. (1968): 297-305. Rpt. In Novels
for Students. Eds. Sheryl Ciccarelli and Marie Rose Napierkowski. Vol 5. Detroit: Gale,
1999. 342-347.
Example of a Internet Citation
Creator's name (if given). Web Page Title. Institution or organization. Date of access
<URL network address>.
Silotto Fall 2011
Name:_____________________
Per:__________
Evaluation:
PROCESS GRADE – 50 Points Total
Notecards (proper format and content) -- 15 pts. _________ Pts.
Thesis Statement/Rough Draft Outline -- 10 pts. _________ Pts.
Rough Draft of Composition -- 15 pts. _________ Pts.
Rough Draft of Works Cited -- 10 pts. _________ Pts.
COMPOSITION GRADES – 100 Points Total
Content/Use of All Sources:
20 pts. ______ Pts.
Thesis statement :
10 pts. ______ Pts.
Topic Sentences/Transitions:
10 pts _______Pts.
Organization of composition:
10 pts. ______ Pts.
Parenthetical documentation (MLA)
10 pts. ______ Pts.
Grammar:
10 pts._______Pts
MLA Format:
10 pts._______Pts.
Works Cited Page :
20 pts. _______Pts.